Stating that “mental corruption is more dangerous than economic corruption”, BJP leader Udit Raj on Monday accused the Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal of “cheating” the Dalits in the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections.
“Arvind Kejriwal is free to hold on to his opinion on any subject but he should not cheat and exploit the votes of Dalits as he did in the recently-concluded Delhi Assembly elections. The reservation is lifeline of SC and ST and he exploited this sentiment to the hilt,” said Mr. Raj who recently joined the BJP.
Clarify stand on reservation He alleged that in August 2008, Mr. Kejriwal participated in a discussion which was organised by Youth for Equality Forum at JNU which originated to oppose reservation in 2006.
“If he is an honest and ethical person, then he should inform Dalits that he does not like reservation,” he said, adding that the AAP had attracted the safai karmacharis the most as it promised to do away with contractual work saying their jobs would be regularised.
“The broom is the main instrument of their livelihood and they were struck emotionally by the AAP symbol. He also promised that Dalits will be given loans without interest for entrepreneurship. So far the AAP has not come out clearly on the issue of reservation,” said Mr. Raj.
Court records statement against Kejriwal
A Delhi court on Monday recorded the statement of a complainant against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly giving “misleading information” in an affidavit filed ahead of the Assembly elections last year.
Metropolitan Magistrate Swati Katiyar commenced recording of pre-summoning evidence in the matter and recorded the statement of petitioner Neeraj Saxena, who has filed the criminal complaint on behalf of NGO Maulik Bharat Trust.
The complainant alleged that Mr. Kejriwal gave misleading information concerning his residential address and market value of his property in his affidavit filed before the poll panel last year.
Meanwhile, the court allowed Mr. Saxena’s plea for examining three government officials, including the record keeper of Delhi Chief Election Officer and fixed the matter for May 7.
The petitioner had said that “wilful concealment and suppression of correct address and value of the property amounts to commission of a criminal offence under Section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, punishable with six months’ imprisonment and/or fine or both”.
